From a pandemic to war on the continent, to repeated energy crises, to the fall of the post-war world order, the EU’s fate seems to be dictated by world events outside of its control. But this lack of agency comes from decades of under-investing in Europe: in our technological sovereignty, in our defense, and in our union. We urgently need to acknowledge the scale of the challenge, and to do all it takes to take back control of our destiny.
In this quest for a stronger Europe, clean technologies are our first line of defense. A homegrown cleantech industry can protect us from future energy crises. It can decentralize our energy system, making it harder to attack. And it can provide the industrial leadership jobs needed for our society to prosper. At Cleantech for Europe Summit 2026, we will gather the EU’s top business, policy and thought leaders to chart a common path to a stronger, cleaner European industry.